Chapter 17 | Leo
Leo
While Katia slept and Bianca retrieved her things, I called one of my fellow agents, Jermaine. We’d worked together for years, and although I didn’t discuss my dealings with Michael, I knew Jermaine understood I worked outside of the box, and he’d always accepted that.
“Hey, Leo,” Jermaine’s deep voice said. “You coming into the office today? We’re wrapping up the Schneider case and there’s too much damn paperwork.”
“Story of our lives,” I muttered. “Listen, I’ve got a family emergency and I need to take a few days off. I’m going to call Sarah and tell her, but I wanted to call you first. Can you cover me? I know it’s extra paperwork, and I’ll make it up to you.”
“Sure. Might cost you a pair of Yankees tickets.”
“My die-hard Mets fan heart might not make it through a Yankees game, but I’ll suck it up and go with you. This situation is too important.”
A moment of silence stretched. “You okay, man? If you need help, you know you can ask me.”
“I appreciate it. Beers on me when I come back. Thanks for having my back.”
“Anytime. Take care, Leo.”
Next, I called Sarah and told her I was taking the rest of the week off. She seemed a bit shocked since I rarely called out, but put my time off in the calendar and said she would inform Daniel.
Locating Dad’s number, I dialed and waited for him to answer.
“Hey,” he said, worry evident in his voice.
“Hey, Dad. Everything’s fine, and I’m going to be bringing Katia home for a few days. There will be times when I’ll need to leave the house and investigate the people who kidnapped her. Can you come over while I’m out for the next week or so?”
“Of course. I know your house is secure, but I understand wanting peace of mind. Should I be armed while I’m there?”
Sighing, I nodded. “Yeah. I hate getting you involved in this, but we need to be smart.”
“All right, then. Just call me when you need me. Retirement is pretty boring, so I’m happy to be back on the beat.”
I breathed a laugh. “Okay, I appreciate it. Talk to you soon.”
I returned to the living room, noticing Alexis typing away on her laptop as she sat in the plush chair beside the couch. Katia slept peacefully, and my eyes roved over her battered face. Rage welled deep within, and I vowed to bring Marco and Oskar to justice for hurting her.
“Wow, you look like you want to kill someone with your bare hands,” Alexis murmured. She glanced over at Katia. “She’s a tough cookie like most women are. She’ll be okay, Leo.”
I nodded and slowly unclenched the tight fists I’d formed.
“You really care for her,” Alexis said, smiling. “I’m so glad. Just an FYI that you’re going to be her plus one to my wedding. I’m going to send one invitation to you both. Every little bit of time saved helps my sanity.”
Grinning, I rested a hand on my hip. “I’m honored to be invited at all. Not so long ago, I was pretty sure your mother hated my guts.”
“Eh, she’s over it.” Alexis waved her hand. “You’re a good egg, Leo. We both like you. We like Katia more, but we like you too.” Her dark green eyes sparkled as she teased me.
“I’ll take it,” I said affably.
After Bianca, Michael and Chris returned with Katia’s clothes and toiletries, I gently shook her awake. Leading her outside, I helped her into the car and drove to my house.
She was quiet during the twenty-five-minute drive, but reached over to take my hand. “Thank you, Leo,” she whispered, her fingers entwined with mine.
“You don’t have to thank me,” I said, tightening my hold on her hand. “And you don’t have to do this alone, Katia.”
Tears welled in her eyes as her head rested against the seat. “I think I’m finally starting to believe that,” she said softly.
When we arrived home, I hit the remote that unlocked my driveway gate.
I’d installed it along with several other security measures due to the dangerous nature of my job.
Once we were parked with the gate firmly locked behind us, I helped her out of the car and slung the bag Bianca had packed over my shoulder.
I led her inside and showed her the downstairs, which consisted of the living room, kitchen and a small den. A meow sounded and Sonya darted toward her as we stood in the kitchen.
“Oh, my sweetheart,” Katia said, picking her up and nuzzling her nose. “Did Leo take good care of you?”
Looking at me, she grinned. “How are you surviving? You’re not sneezing.”
“Lots of allergy pills,” I said, arching a sardonic brow. “And I made an appointment for next week to get some allergy shots. Those should preclude me needing to take pills.”
Her smile deepened beneath her swollen skin as she nuzzled Sonya’s fur. “That’s quite a long-term solution for a cat who’s not yours.”
I swallowed thickly, feeling my cheeks warm under her gaze. Was I blushing like a damn teenager? What had this woman done to me?
“Yeah,” I said, clearing my throat. “Well, I’d like my home to be a safe place for you both...for as long as you want to stay.”
Katia’s nostrils flared. “Leo...” she whispered.
“Come on,” I said, gesturing to the doorway. “Let me show you the bedrooms.”
I led her upstairs, pushing away the serious conversation we were about to have to another day.
“This is the guest bedroom,” I said, showing her the first room on the left. “You can stay there to have some privacy. The bathroom across the hall is yours.”
I led her to my bedroom at the end of the hall. “This is my room, and I have my own bath, so you’ll have privacy.”
She studied me with her one good eye that wasn’t swollen shut. “Okay. Should I settle in?”
“Sure. There’s food, soda and bottled water in the cabinets and fridge. Make yourself at home.”
“I think I just want to take a shower,” she said, sighing. “I’ve never craved a damn shower more.”
“Go for it,” I said with a nod. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”
As she showered upstairs, I headed down to the den that also functioned as my home office. Opening my laptop, I made notes about the details of Katia’s rescue that morning. As a seasoned investigator, I knew it was important to write everything down.
I documented Dmitry’s outreach to Alexis, and his willingness to help.
Maxim also seemed to be a mostly innocent bystander.
The main two antagonists had been Marco Nunez and Oskar.
At least now, I could confirm with my own eyes that Marco was in New York.
Not great news, but now Michael and I could deal with the situation and attack it head on.
A tendril of worry snaked down my spine for Dmitry. Oskar was smart enough to figure out that the kid had betrayed him, and I was concerned for his safety. Reaching for my phone, I called Michael.
“Hey,” he said. “Did you all make it home okay?”
“Yes. Now that she’s safe, I want to get ahead of this situation. In my assessment, we have two main objectives: take down Marco and Oskar before they beat us to it, and protect Dmitry. I’m worried they’re going to retaliate against him for helping Katia.”
“We could approach him at home,” Michael said, “or have Alexis contact him.”
“Let’s have Alexis contact him first. He already communicated with her, and they probably have some sort of secret hacker mutual respect we’ll never understand. I’ll call her and help her craft the message to him.”
“That works. Now, on to Marco and Oskar. We need to work quickly. Katia’s abduction and rescue have probably shifted things into overdrive, and we need to immobilize them quickly,” Michael said. “I have an idea that I’ve been discussing with Alexis. Hear me out and see what you think...”
I listened, realizing the plan would put us into uncharted, dangerous territory, but having hope that it just might work.
“It’s risky, but I like it,” I said when Michael finished.
“Good. Let me continue to work with Alexis for now and I’ll keep you posted.”
Clicking off the phone, I tapped it to my chin, pondering if Michael’s plan had any chance of success. Hell if I knew, but we needed to think outside the box, and I’d never minded taking a risk if I anticipated success.
Shelving it for the moment, I rose to go check on Katia.
I spent the rest of the day helping Katia with her various ice packs. We also took a walk around the block at dusk, allowing her to inhale some fresh air before bed.
Once it grew dark, I cooked us some pasta and we ate it on my couch as we watched the evening news.
“This is good,” she said, grinning as she chewed. I could tell she was still in pain, and my heart ached that I hadn’t saved her from it. “Didn’t realize you were a cook too.”
“It’s pasta from a box and sauce from a jar,” I said, shrugging. “Nothing too elaborate.”
“It’s heaven,” she said, winking at me with her good eye.
After washing the pans and cleaning up the kitchen, I led her upstairs. We stopped at the doorframe to her bedroom, and she tenderly palmed my jaw.
“Thank you, Leo,” she whispered, rising to her toes and pressing her lips to mine. “I appreciate everything you’re doing for me.”
“I should’ve done more,” I said, guilt clenching in my chest. “I never should’ve left you alone after we approached Dmitry—”
“You can’t predict the future, and I’m a very independent woman,” she said, placing her fingers over my lips. “Although, it’s kind of nice being doted on by you. I wish my face wasn’t pounded in like a bag of gravel, but it is what it is.”
I gently ran my hand over her cheek that was less swollen. “You’ll always be the most beautiful woman in the room to me,” I said softly.
Her resulting smile helped ease the knot of guilt lodged in my throat, if only a little.
“We’re going to help Dmitry, right? I don’t want them to hurt him.”
“Alexis has contacted him, and we’re going to do our best.”
Sighing, she nodded. “I’m not sure Maxim can be saved—although I’d like to help him too—but I think we have a chance with Dmitry.”
“I hope so. He seems like a good kid.” I placed a kiss on her forehead. “Sleep well, and I’m just down the hall if you need me.”
She nodded and entered her room, and I realized there was no reason for me to linger. Heading to my bedroom, I left the door cracked and got ready for bed. I always slept naked, so I glided between the sheets and emitted a long sigh after the trying day.
Turning on my bedside lamp, I put on my reading glasses and scrolled through the encrypted app that summarized all the activity on the local police scanners for the day.
Nothing particular stood out, and I exhaled a relieved breath that our activity that morning hadn’t been picked up by the NYPD.
That was one more headache I didn’t need.
My eyes began to droop, and I closed the app as something shuffled at my door.
Katia appeared, pushing the door open. She stood in the frame, illuminated like an angel as her long red hair bracketed her shoulders.
She wore a t-shirt and a pair of short boxers that left her long legs exposed.
My eyes traveled over them, sending my body into overdrive as arousal caused my cock to harden beneath the sheets.
“I don’t want to sleep alone,” she said, her voice raspy as she stood in the doorway.
My throat bobbed as I struggled to speak.
“It’s not about sex,” she said, lifting a shoulder.
“It’s about the fact that for the first time in my life, I ache to be held by someone.
” Taking one step into the room, she smiled.
“By you, Leo. I don’t understand it, and it scares the shit out of me, but I want to sleep with you. Just sleep. If you’re okay with that.”
Unable to resist her, I lifted the sheets, inviting her in. She sauntered over and slid in beside me.
“The glasses are extremely hot, by the way,” she said, settling in on the opposite side of the bed.
“Ah, yeah. They remind me I’m old,” I teased.
“Join the club,” she muttered.
I removed my glasses and flipped off the lamp. Darkness settled over the room, and I reached for her. She sprawled across my body, nuzzling into my side as she rested her less injured cheek on my chest.
The sounds of our breaths mingled in the otherwise quiet room as I stroked her silky hair. Her thigh draped across mine, and I closed my eyes in ecstasy. After all these years of quietly longing for her, she was here, in my bed, and she was mine.
Her fingers trailed over my chest in a soft caress as we both relaxed in our warm cocoon.
Exhaling a sated breath, she whispered, “This is exactly where I want to be.”
My heart thudded under her cheek. “Me too, baby. Good night.”
I kissed her soft hair and closed my eyes, allowing myself to enjoy a few moments of true bliss as I held my woman in the darkness.